NUNSPEET, The Netherlands, March 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Shimano STEPS wins Bike Innovation Award and is installed in 23 brands

Shimano, known for bicycle components, has launched a new integrated system for e-bikes. At the end of February, the high tech lightweight Shimano STEPS system immediately won the Dutch Bike Innovation Award 2015 and since then has already been installed in23 bicycle brands, including well-known brands such as Trek, Cortine and Cannondale.

The Japanese manufacturer had not yet broken into the Dutch market for electric bicycles. In 2014 the sales of e-bikes increased by 16 percent. 223,000 of the 1.05 million bicycles sold in the Netherlands were e-bikes, as the RAI recently announced. In this growing e-bike market Shimano wants to help people get the most out of cycling. Where competing brands often only supply the battery or some parts for e-bikes, Shimano has a developed complete system with all parts. From the drive to the battery, from the gear system, bicycle computer to the chain.

Characteristic of Shimano is the investment the company makes in Research & Development and has released an intelligent, silent and light system with all kinds of high tech innovations such as electronic shifting (Di2). Weighing just 3.1 kilogrammes Shimano STEPS is one of the lightest drive systems on the market. This is not only important for the 50+ target group that want to minimise their pedalling weight. The compact and light design also improves the control of the cyclist and as a result is suitable for a wide target group.

Using sensor technology information about torque, speed, cadence and crank position is gathered. This ensures smooth and optimally aligned pedalling power. The e-bike system stops when the cyclist has achieved a speed of 25 kilometres per hr. The battery has a capacity of 418Wh, has to be recharged after four hrs and after 1,000 recharges still holds the same capacity.

With the eco mode on the bicycle computer, cyclists can cycle up to 120 kilometres. It even boasts a walking support function that helps push the bicycle up slopes up to 6 kilometres per hour.

In the future, the e-bike system will be further supplemented with innovative parts, recently additions include the Nexus-8 Di2 hub. This ensures that the electric bicycle shifts automatically, just like the automatic gear box of a car.

The jury of the RAI awarded the system the Bike Innovation Award because of its compact design, low weight and the total integration of components. According to the jury, this makes Shimano STEPS a true innovation. Dealers and bike manufacturers also respond enthusiastically to the new system. During training days Shimano STEPS got grade 9 and the bicycle brands Alba, Bonaventure, Cannondale, Cortina, Dutch ID, Evobike, Flanders, Granville, Hercules, Johnny Loco, KTM, Merida, Oxford, Pegagus, Puch, SCOTT, Spiked Cycles, Stella, Thompson, Trek, Velo de Ville, Venturelli and Vogue have bikes with the system in their product range.

http://www.shimano.com

View original post here:

Shimano Conquers e-bike Market With Smart and Light System